NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Eric Paschall came up short in his ultimate goal of winning the National Prep Championship on Wednesday, but the Fordham-bound guard served notice that he could be a force in the A-10 over the next several years.
The 6-foot-6 guard went off for 25 points and 6 rebounds in the semifinals when St. Thomas More beat Syracuse-bound Chris McCullough and IMG Academy, 93-86.
In an 88-77 loss to Brewster (N.H.) Academy in the final Wednesday night, Paschall was limited to just 2 points because of a chronic toe injury that flared up and good defense from 2015 guard Donovan Mitchell.
“In the second half, I switched men and then my toe got hit hard,” Paschall told SNY.tv of his final game before he heads to Fordham. “It still hurts pretty bad.”
He added: “Donovan played all-out denial on me, so he faceguarded me the whole game.”
Still, Paschall impressed Brewster coach Jason Smith, whose team is loaded with Division 1 commits and won its third National Prep Championship.
“He’s a stud,” Smith told SNY.tv of Paschall. “Best player we played against this year.”
Paschall averaged 20.9 points and 7.6 rebounds this season at St. Thomas More, which also reached the NEPSAC semifinals.
A year ago, he averaged 26.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game as a junior at Dobbs Ferry High School before transferring to St. Thomas More.
Last April, he chose Fordham over VCU, Providence, George Mason and Iona, and it now looks like the Rams got a steal.
Paschall, just 17, will join Fordham next year where he and current freshman guard Jon Severe should provide a 1-2 punch going forward for head coach Tom Pecora.
Severe is averaging 17.8 points for the Rams.
“They want me to come in and score but I’ll just do whatever it takes to win,” Paschall said. “I feel like me and Jon will be great together.”
Fordham is also working hard to land uncommitted 2014 point guard Matt Farrell of Point Pleasant Beach, who had Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and Providence assistant Bob Simon watching him Wednesday.
“I shoot him a text every once in a while,” Paschall said. “I tell him to come to Fordham because we need a point guard.”
If Fordham lands Farrell, they will have a three-guard combo to lead them in to the future.
Regardless, St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn believes Paschall will be a huge bonus for the Rams.
“Eric has a few upsides,” Quinn told SNY.tv. “One, he’s a great kid. Secondly, he has a great family. Thirdly, he has incredible potential. Fourth, he’s 17 years old.
“He’s learned to play a lot harder. When he figures out how hard you have to play on the defensive end, I always think you’re best player should be your best defender. And of course his body has to get stronger. But he’s 17 years old.
“He makes shots, he scores in multiple ways.”
